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Where does “catechism” come from?

Catechism comes from Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek κατηχισμός, derived from the verb κατηχίζω meaning to instruct orally, from κατηχέω combining κατά with ἠχή meaning sound.

catechism (English): A book, in question and answer form, summarizing...

Definitions

  1. A book, in question and answer form, summarizing...

Ancestry of “catechism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latincatechismus—
2Ancient Greekκατηχισμόςkatēkhismos
3Ancient GreekκατηχίζωI instruct orally; to catechize
4Ancient Greekκατήχησιςoral instruction; instruction by word of mouth
5Ancient Greekκατηχέωto resound; to teach by word of mouth
6Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ-fully; down; denoting motion downwards
7Ancient Greekκατά
8Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
9Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
10Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “catechism”

  • catechismal
  • carriwitchet
  • katekisimu
  • katekisima
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →